Vacuum attachment for power tool

ABSTRACT

A vacuum attachment device (10) contains a drill attachment portion (30) and a vacuum mounting portion (50). The drill attachment portion (30) is further composed of a longitudinally truncated cylinder section (32) and a lower funnel section (42). The cylinder section (32) has first and second snap-on arms (34) and (36) and a rear cylinder aperture (40). The lower funnel section (42) has a lower funnel connection aperture (44) which connects to the cylinder section (32) at the rear aperture (40). The vacuum mounting portion (50) contains a hose attachment section (52) and an upper funnel section (54). A vacuum mounting portion bonding surface (56) connects the vacuum mounting portion (50) to the drill attachment portion bonding surface (46) of the drill attachment portion (30).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vacuum attachments for use on powertools, and more particularly to vacuum attachments for countersink cagesthat utilize snap-on mounting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The assembly of many different types of fiber panels, including graphitecarbon fiber panels, throughout various production processes requirescountersink drilling. Currently, undesirable graphite dust particles andchips are produced in an uncontrolled manner when countersink drillingis performed. This unchecked production of graphite dust particles andchips creates an unacceptable workplace environment. The afore-describedconcerns resulting from graphite fiber and fiberglass dust particleshave made the utilization of vacuum attachment devices for countersinkcages a standard protocol in countersink drilling. A countersink cage isa cylindrical-shaped guard that surrounds a countersink drill bit. Thecountersink cage is calibrated to set the depth to which the countersinkdrill is allowed to bore. Countersink cages are designed to allow chips,particles, and dust to be expelled during the drilling process. Vacuumattachment devices are mounted on countersink cages so as to catch theexpelled chips and particles produced during the drilling process androute them to a vacuuming device. However, because of the addedproduction time involved with mounting and unmounting current vacuumattachment devices to countersink cages, and readjusting countersinkdepth settings, many countersink drill users are tempted to abstain fromusing vacuum attachment devices, even though they desire the protectionsuch devices provide. The disadvantages of current vacuum attachmentsforce countersink drill users to choose between maintaining properworkplace environment standards, and sacrificing valuable productiontime.

Prior vacuum attachment devices have also failed due to a variety ofadditional factors, including cost, functionality, material strength,and material durability. One of the conceptual failures embodied inprevious vacuum attachment devices was the requirement of disassemblingcountersink cages in order to properly mount the vacuum attachmentdevices. Mounting of these prior devices also resulted in the need toreset the countersink calibration depths. These steps are undesirablebecause they are time consuming, and because changes in countersinkdepth settings can produce defects, such as overly shallow or deepcountersinking. Material bond strength failure and relative complexityof design are also additional factors that have led to the lack of fullacceptance and implementation of previous vacuum attachment devices.

There is a continuing need in the art for a vacuum attachment devicethat can quickly and easily mount onto countersink cages withoutrequiring countersink cage disassembly or countersink depthrecalibration. Sufficient material strength, low cost of materials, andrelative ease of manufacture are additional advantageous characteristicswhich are desired in a vacuum attachment device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a vacuum attachment device forconnecting a vacuuming mechanism to a power tool, such as a countersinkcage. The device contains a drill attachment portion that has aconfiguration and material composition that facilitates snapping thedevice onto and off of the power tool. The device also includes a vacuummounting portion that is coupled to the drill attachment portion, andhas a configuration and material composition that facilitates mounting avacuum mechanism hose onto the vacuum attachment device.

In a preferred embodiment of the vacuum attachment device, the drillattachment portion is shaped approximately as a longitudinally truncatedcylinder. The drill attachment portion snaps onto the power toollaterally. The vacuum mounting portion preferably expands to create anenhanced seal with the vacuum mechanism hose.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, vacuum attachment device iscomposed of a urethane composition. The device is of a dual durometercomposition, with the drill attachment portion having a differenthardness value than the vacuum mounting portion. Preferably, the drillattachment portion has a greater hardness value than the vacuum mountingportion. The drill attachment portion is preferably approximatelybetween 70 A and 85 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale, morepreferably approximately between 65 D and 80 D, and most preferablyapproximately 70 D. The vacuum mounting portion preferably isapproximately between 40 A and 90 D on the elastomer hardness shorescale, more preferably approximately between 45 D and 60 D, and mostpreferably approximately 55 D.

In a preferred embodiment of the vacuum attachment device, the drillattachment portion is configured specifically to attach to countersinkcages of various sizes. The vacuum mounting portion is also configuredto attach to vacuum hoses of various sizes. In another preferredembodiment, the drill attachment portion and the vacuum mounting portionare formed as a single unit. In still another preferred embodiment, thedrill attachment portion and the vacuum mounting portion are formed asseparate pieces which are secured together.

The drill attachment portion of the present invention is configured tobe laterally mountable onto the power tool. Although in one preferredembodiment vacuum attachment device, the drill attachment portion isconfigured and formed of a material of an appropriate hardness to "snapon" to the power tool, another preferred embodiment of the vacuumattachment device is configured simply to matably locate onto the outercircumference of a power tool. In this type of embodiment, a securementmechanism, such as a latching apparatus, is used to selectively affixthe drill attachment portion of the attachment device to the power tool.

A vacuum attachment device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention utilizes lateral mounting and "snap on" methodology to achievethe beneficial efforts of dramatically reduced overall process time fromcountersinking (and other power tooling) operations. This isaccomplished by allowing a user to snap on the vacuum attachment devicewithout having to disassemble countersink cages and reset countersinkdepths. Further, the dual durometer construction of the vacuumattachment device allows the drill attachment portion to be of amaterial hardness suitable for "snap on" attachment, while the vacuummounting portion is of a material hardness that enables attachment to avacuum hose with enhanced sealability. The vacuum attachment device islow cost and easy to manufacture. Finally, since shortcomings with priorart attempts to resolve this problem have resulted in the lack of fullimplementation of prior vacuum devices, the present inventionfacilitates removal of undesirable graphite dust particles and chips,which are currently produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the vacuum attachment device ofthe present invention with an attached vacuum hose, and mounted on acountersink cage with an attached drill, and an adjacent drillingsurface;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the vacuum attachment device ofFIG. 1, shown in isolation;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the vacuum attachment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the vacuum attachmentdevice of FIG. 1, mounted on a countersink cage with an attached drill;and

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of another preferred embodiment vacuumattachment device of the present invention, which has shorter mountingarms and a securement mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a vacuum attachmentdevice 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention shownmounted to a countersink cage 12 of a countersink drill 14, and securedto a vacuum hose 16. Briefly described, the vacuum attachment device 10includes a drill attachment portion 30 and a vacuum mounting portion 50.The drill attachment portion 30 is further composed of a longitudinallytruncated cylinder section 32 and a lower funnel section 42. Thelongitudinally truncated cylinder section 32 has first and secondsnap-on arms 34 and 36 and a rear cylinder aperture 40. The lower funnelsection 42 has a lower funnel connection aperture 44 which connects tothe longitudinally truncated cylinder section 32 at the rear cylinderaperture 40. The vacuum mounting portion 50 includes a hose attachmentsection 52 and an upper funnel section 54. A vacuum mounting portionbonding surface 56 connects the vacuum mounting portion 50 to the drillattachment portion bonding surface 46 of the drill attachment portion30.

Describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention in moredetail, as shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinally truncated cylindersection 32 of the drill attachment portion 30 is approximately C-shaped(or mirror image C-shaped as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) when viewed fromabove. The first and second snap-on arms 34 and 36 form the inwardlycurving ends of the C-shape. As most clearly seen in FIG. 3, the C-shapeof the longitudinally truncated cylinder section 32 representsapproximately two-thirds of a circle in this particular preferredembodiment. Thus, the longitudinally truncated cylinder section 32 hasan opening of approximately 120° in this preferred embodiment. Asdescribed in detail below, this is the opening by which the vacuumattachment device 10 laterally snap-mounts onto and off of a countersinkcage 12. The size of this opening or longitudinally truncated region ofthe cylinder section 32 can vary substantially without departing fromthe scope of the present invention, based on several factors. Thesefactors are selected so that snap-on arms 34 and 36 are flexible enoughto snap onto and off of the countersink cage 12, yet the arms areresilient enough to retain connection with the countersink cage oncemounted. One of these factors is the hardness of the material used toconstruct the drill attachment portion 30 of the vacuum attachmentdevice 10. A vacuum attachment device 10 constructed of a hardermaterial can snap mount onto and off of a countersink cage 12 withshorter arms 34 and 36, while a vacuum attachment device 10 constructedof a softer material requires longer arms 34 and 36 to properly andsecurely mount onto a countersink cage 12.

When a vacuum attachment device 10 is mounted onto a countersink cage12, the first and second snap-on arms 34 and 36 snap mount over thesubstantially cylindrical outer surface of the countersink cage 12, suchthat the inner circumferential surface 38 of the cylinder section 32correspondingly mates against the outer surface of the countersink cage12. Centered between the first and second snap-on arms 34 and 36 is therear cylinder aperture 40, which provides a vacuuming route from theinside of the countersink cage 12 into the lower funnel section 42. Thelower funnel section 42 is frusticonical in shape and intersects thelongitudinally truncated cylinder section 32 at an inverted angularorientation. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of intersection of thelower funnel section 42 is approximately 50-60 degrees from thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder section 32. However, this angle canchange substantially, throughout virtually any angle, without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. The lower funnel section 42 ishollow and transitions into the cylinder section 32 adjacent the lowerfunnel connection aperture 44. The upper end of the lower funnel section42 forms a drill attachment portion bonding surface 46 which connectsthe drill attachment portion 30 to the vacuum mounting portion 50.

The vacuum mounting portion 50 has a hose attachment section 52 and anupper funnel section 54. The upper funnel section 54 is alsofrusticonical in shape, with the lower funnel section 42 being thefrustum of the upper funnel section 54. Thus, the upper funnel section54 and lower funnel section 42 can be characterized as separate regionsof a single conical funnel. The upper funnel section 54 is also hollow,like its lower counterpart, and connects to the drill attachment portionbonding surface 46 of the lower funnel section 42 at a vacuum mountingportion bonding surface 56.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transition fromthe hose attachment section 52 to the upper funnel section 54 is thewidest (or greatest circumferential) region of the vacuum mountingportion 50. The hose attachment section 52 is a hollow cylinder sectionthat tapers slightly in diameter moving away from the upper funnelsection 54. Thus, technically the hose attachment section 52 is alsofrusticonical, making the intersection of the hose attachment section 52with the upper funnel section 54 the shared base of twooppositely-facing frusticones. The tapering of the hose attachmentsection 52 facilitates mounting a vacuum hose 16 onto the section 52.The vacuum hose 16 is simply slid onto the hose attachment section 52 ofthe vacuum mounting portion 50 until the hose 16 reaches a point wherethe diameter of the hose attachment section 52 prevents further mountingof the hose 16, thus forming a seal. The pressure produced by avacuuming device to which the hose 16 is attached, enhances this seal.Preferably, the hardness of the material used to construct the vacuummounting portion 50 is selected so that the hose attachment section 52is flexible enough to expand slightly in response to the vacuumingpressure, thus producing a superior enhanced seal, yet the hoseattachment section 52 is resilient enough to resume its original shapewhen the vacuum pressure is removed.

As best shown in FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment vacuum attachment device10 is composed of two materials and has a dual durometer design. Thedrill attachment portion 30 is composed of a material A while the vacuummounting portion 50 is composed of a material B. The drill attachmentportion bonding surface 46 of the drill attachment portion 30 and thevacuum mounting portion bonding surface 56 of the vacuum mountingportion 50 are the intersecting surfaces between the material A and thematerial B. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thevacuum attachment device 10 is cavity-formed from two differentdurometers of urethane material, material A and material B. Materials Aand B are selected such that the drill attachment portion 30, formedfrom material A, will bond to the vacuum mounting portion 50, formedfrom material B, as the vacuum attachment device 10 cures and forms anintermaterial bond of substantial strength.

Producing acceptable levels of material bond strength between material Aand material B has proved at least in part to be manufacture-dependent.In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, materials A and Bare made from two mixtures of a commercially available urethane resinand two different commercially available hardeners. In this particularembodiment, the drill attachment portion 30 which is constructed frommaterial A is made from a combination of 50 parts by volume of IE70-Dhardener produced by Innovative Polymers, Inc., of St. John, Mich., and100 parts by volume of IE70-D resin. The vacuum mounting portion 50composed of material B is made from a blend of 40 parts by volume of"Uralite" 3119 Part B hardener produced by H. B. Fuller Manufacturing ofChatsworth, Calif., and 100 parts by volume of H. B. Fuller Uralite 3125Part A resin. Many other combinations and ratios of materials can beused without departing from the scope of the present invention,depending on the manufacturer from which the materials were procured.Not all manufacturers produce materials with the requisite qualities tosupport sufficient intermaterial bond strength. Further, many othertypes of materials besides urethane can be used to produce the vacuumattachment device 10 of the present invention, including but not limitedto nylon, rubber, etc.

The vacuum attachment device 10 is then fabricated in a mold that isconfigured to allow the two urethane components, material A and materialB, to meet at the transition bonding surfaces 46 and 56 of the drillattachment portion 30 and the vacuum mounting portion 50. During thecuring process, the drill attachment portion 30 and the vacuum mountingportion 50 bond to one another. Thus, this preferred embodiment vacuumattachment device 10 is produced as a one-piece, two durometer vacuumattachment device.

In another embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the vacuumattachment device 10 could be formed as an attachable two-piece assemblywith the drill attachment portion 30 and the vacuum mounting portion 50formed as separate individual pieces. In this alternate preferredembodiment, the drill attachment portion 30 and the vacuum mountingportion 50 could then be attached by adhesively bonding them together,or otherwise secured to one another using any variety of couplingtechniques known in the art. Further, in another alternate preferredtwo-piece embodiment of the present invention, the drill attachmentportion and vacuum mounting portion could have their respective lowerand upper funnel sections configured in a slightly modified design thatwould facilitate a sealing slip-fit or sleeve-type fit, where oneportion of the funnel section would slide slightly over the otherportion of the funnel section into a secured position.

The benefit of the above-described dual durometer preferred embodimentdesign of the vacuum attachment device 10 is derived from the fact thatoptimum hardness for the snap-on arms 34 and 36 of the drill attachmentportion 30, is different from the optimum hardness of the hoseattachment section 52 of the vacuum mounting portion 50. Preferably, thedrill attachment portion 30 of the vacuum attachment device 10 isharder, i.e., has a larger hardness value on the elastomer hardnessshore scale, than the vacuum mounting portion 50 of the vacuumattachment device 10. An acceptable hardness of the drill attachmentportion 30, and specifically the snap-on arms 34 and 36, is necessary toobtain the "snap-on" effect. When in an acceptable hardness range, thesnap-on arms 34 and 36 are sufficiently flexible to allow the vacuumattachment device 10 to be snapped on and off of a countersink cage 12(or outer surface of another power tool) with ease, sufficientlyresilient to maintain a hold on the countersink cage 12 after beingsnapped on, and return to their initial configuration state for reuse.If the snap-on arms are constructed of material with too large of ahardness value, the snap-on arms 34 and 36 either will not have theflexibility to snap over a countersink cage or will snap off whenmounting is attempted. Conversely, if the snap-on arms are constructedof a material with too low of a hardness value, the snap-on arms 34 and36 will slip on and off of a countersink cage too easily to sufficientlymount the vacuum attachment device 10.

It is also desirable to have the hardness level of the material whichforms the vacuum mounting portion 50 within a certain hardness range tofacilitate sliding the hose 16 onto the end of the hose attachmentsection 52. The preferable hardness level for the vacuum mountingportion 50 is typically (but not required to be) lower than that for thedrill attachment portion 30, so that the hose attachment section 52 ofthe vacuum mounting portion 50 has enough residual flexibility, or"give" to expand slightly in response to the vacuuming pressure andproduce an enhanced seal with a mounted vacuum hose 16. However,preferably the hardness level of the hose attachment section 52 also issuch that the section 52 is resilient enough to resume its originalshape when the vacuum pressure is removed. If the vacuum mountingportion 50 is constructed of a material with too high of a hardnesslevel, the expanding ability of the hose attachment section 52 to sealwith the vacuum hose 16, will be lost.

However, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, thevacuuming mounting portion 50 is constructed of a material with ahardness value that does not facilitate the above described expandingability but instead utilizes another hose securement mechanism (notshown), such as a screw tightening clamp, to firmly secure the hose 16to the hose attachment section 52. In still another preferred embodimentof the present invention, the vacuuming mounting portion 50 of thedevice 10 is threaded so that a correspondingly threaded hose 16 can be"screwed" onto the device 10 and thereby secured. Finally, in yetanother variation of the present invention, the vacuum mounting portion50 is configured to receive and secure a vacuum hose 16 on the inside ofthe mounting portion 50.

The hardness of the drill attachment portion 30 of the vacuum attachmentdevice is preferably approximately between 70 A and 85 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale. More preferably, the drill attachmentportion is approximately between 65 D and 80 D on the elastomer hardnessshore scale. Most preferably, the drill attachment portion has a valueof approximately 70 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale. Incontrast, the vacuum mounting portion 30 is preferably approximatelybetween 40 A and 90 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale. Morepreferably, the vacuum mounting portion 50 is approximately between 45 Dand 60 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale. Finally, the vacuummounting portion 30 is most preferably approximately 55 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale. Brief analysis of the afore-describedpreferred ranges for the drill attachment 30 and the vacuum mountingportion 50 reveals that these preferred hardness ranges overlap. Thus, apreferred embodiment vacuum attachment device can be constructed inaccordance with the present invention, which utilizes a single durometerand hence, single material design.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power tool, towhich the drill attachment portion 30 of the device 10 is specificallyconfigured to attach, is the countersink cage 12 of a countersink drill14. In this preferred embodiment, the vacuum attachment device 10 isdesigned such that the drill attachment portion 30 is specificallyconfigured to attach to a countersink cage 12, while the vacuum mountingportion 50 is configured to be compatible with vacuum hoses 16 of a sizetypically available in a countersink drilling workplace. Vacuumattachment devices 10 can be configured with drill attachment portions30 and vacuum mounting portions 50 which are designed to becorrespondingly matable with a wide variety of countersink cage sizesand vacuum hose sizes. Further, the drill attachment portion 30 can bedesigned to mount onto a variety of other types of power tools besidesthe countersink cages 12 of countersink drills 14, without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

A vacuum attachment device 10 constructed in accordance with the presentinvention connects to a countersink cage 12 by mounting laterally ontothe side of the cage. The arms 34 and 36 of the longitudinally truncatedcylinder section 32, laterally attach to the countersink cage 12, thusdramatically shortening the overall process time involved withcountersink drilling. Lateral mounting of the vacuum attachment devicedoes not require disassembly of the countersink cages 12 and resettingof the countersink calibration depths, as did prior art vacuumattachment devices. These steps are time consuming and can result inmiscalibration of the countersink cages.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment vacuum attachmentdevice 70 employs a modified drill attachment portion 72 with truncatedsnap-on arms 74, which laterally mount or locate onto a countersink cage12 (cage not shown in FIG. 5, but similar to that shown in the previousembodiments) without "snapping on". The modified longitudinallytruncated cylinder section 76 still has an inner circumferential surface78 that correspondingly mounts onto or is located against the outersurface of a countersink cage 12, but comprises a smaller portion of acircle when viewed from above. A longitudinally truncated cylindersection 76 forms only approximately a half of a circle. In thispreferred embodiment, the mounting arms 74 do not snap on to thecountersink cage 12, and thus, an additional securement mechanism 80 isnecessary to mountably secure the alternate vacuum attachment device 70onto a countersink cage 12. Any number of securement mechanisms 80 thatare known and widely available in commerce could be used for thispurpose, such as a buckle system, as is utilized on a shoe or ski boot.A securement mechanism 80 could also take the form of a clip system inwhich small protrusions (not shown) on the inner circumferential surface38 or 78 of the cylinder section 32 or 76 would extend inward towardsthe cylindrical axis. These protrusions would then secure themselves inapertures of a countersink cage 12 when the device was mounted. Thesetypes of vacuum attachment devices 70 are useful in mounting the deviceon certain types of countersink cages or other power tools having outersurface configurations or protrusions onto which it is difficult to snapa vacuum attachment device 10, such as described above.

The vacuum attachment device 10 of the present invention is a low-costapparatus compared to prior art vacuum attachment devices. The presentinvention is also simple to manufacture and has a low manufacturingproduction time. There is no welding, special chamfering, or finishingprocesses that need to be implemented in producing this urethaneattachment. Additionally, the vacuum attachment device 10 could bemanufactured from other materials having suitable properties andcharacteristics without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Further, a single vacuum attachment device need not berelegated to a specific countersink cage, but can be carried around amanufacturing workplace from tool to tool due to its simple mountabilityand detachability.

The present invention has been described in relation to a preferredembodiment and several preferred alternate embodiments. One of ordinaryskill in the art, after reading the foregoing specification, may be ableto affect various other changes, alterations, and substitutions orequivalents thereof without departing from the concepts disclosed. It istherefore intended that the scope of the letters patent granted hereonbe limited only by the definitions contained in the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A vacuum attachmentdevice for connecting a vacuuming mechanism having a hose to a powertool, the device comprising:(a) a drill attachment portion having aconfiguration and material composition that facilitates snapping thedevice onto and off of a power tool; and (b) a vacuum mounting portion.2. A vacuum attachment device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum mountingportion is coupled to the drill attachment portion, the vacuum mountingportion having a configuration and material composition that facilitatesmounting the vacuum mechanism hose into the device.
 3. A vacuumattachment device of claim 2, wherein the drill attachment portion isapproximately shaped as a longitudinally truncated cylinder.
 4. A vacuumattachment device of claim 2, wherein the drill attachment portion snapson to a power tool laterally.
 5. A vacuum attachment device of claim 2,wherein the vacuum mounting portion comprises a configuration andmaterial composition that slightly expands to create an enhanced sealwith the vacuum mechanism hose.
 6. A vacuum attachment device of claim2, wherein the device comprises of a urethane composition.
 7. A vacuumattachment device of claim 2, wherein the device is of a dual durometercomposition.
 8. A vacuum attachment device of claim 2, wherein the drillattachment portion is of a greater hardness value than the vacuummounting portion.
 9. A vacuum attachment device of claim 2, wherein thedrill attachment portion is approximately between 70 A and 85 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale.
 10. A vacuum attachment device of claim9, wherein the drill attachment portion is approximately between 65 Dand 80 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale.
 11. A vacuum attachmentdevice of claim 10, wherein the drill attachment portion isapproximately 70 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale.
 12. A vacuumattachment device of claim 2, wherein the vacuum mounting portion isapproximately between 40 A and 90 D on the elastomer hardness shorescale.
 13. A vacuum attachment device of claim 12, wherein the vacuummounting portion is approximately between 45 D and 60 D on the elastomerhardness shore scale.
 14. A vacuum attachment device of claim 13,wherein the vacuum mounting portion is approximately 55 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale.
 15. A vacuum attachment device of claim2, wherein the drill attachment portion is configured to attach tocountersink cages.
 16. A vacuum attachment device of claim 2, whereinthe drill attachment portion and the vacuum mounting portion are formedas a single unit.
 17. A vacuum attachment device of claim 2, wherein thedrill attachment portion and the vacuum mounting portion are formed asseparate pieces and secured together.
 18. A vacuum attachment device forconnecting a vacuuming mechanism having a hose to a power tool having anouter surface, the device comprising:(a) a drill attachment portionconfigured to be laterally mountable onto a power tool; (b) a securementmechanism for selectively operatively associating the drill attachmentportion to a power tool; and (c) a vacuum mounting portion coupled tothe drill attachment portion, the vacuum mounting portion having aconfiguration and material composition that facilitates mounting thevacuum mechanism hose into the device.
 19. A vacuum attachment device ofclaim 18, wherein the drill attachment portion is sized and shaped tomate with a portion of a power tool's outer surface.
 20. A vacuumattachment device of claim 19, wherein the securement mechanismselectively affixes the drill attachment portion to a power tool.
 21. Avacuum attachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachmentportion snaps on to a power tool laterally.
 22. A vacuum attachmentdevice of claim 18, wherein the vacuum mounting portion is of aconfiguration and material composition that slightly expands to createan enhanced seal with the vacuum mechanism hose.
 23. A vacuum attachmentdevice of claim 18, wherein the device is composed of a urethanecomposition.
 24. A vacuum attachment device of claim 18, wherein thedevice is composed of a dual durometer composition.
 25. A vacuumattachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachment portion isof a greater hardness value than the vacuum mounting portion.
 26. Avacuum attachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachmentportion is approximately between 70 A and 85 D on the elastomer hardnessshore scale.
 27. A vacuum attachment device of claim 26, wherein thedrill attachment portion is approximately between 65 D and 80 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale.
 28. A vacuum attachment device of claim27, wherein the drill attachment portion is approximately 70 D on theelastomer hardness shore scale.
 29. A vacuum attachment device of claim18, wherein the vacuum mounting portion is approximately between 40 Aand 90 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale.
 30. A vacuum attachmentdevice of claim 29, wherein the vacuum mounting portion is approximatelybetween 45 D and 60 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale.
 31. Avacuum attachment device of claim 30, wherein the vacuum mountingportion is approximately 55 D on the elastomer hardness shore scale. 32.A vacuum attachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachmentportion is configured to attach to countersink cages.
 33. A vacuumattachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachment portion andthe vacuum mounting portion are formed as a single unit.
 34. A vacuumattachment device of claim 18, wherein the drill attachment portion andthe vacuum mounting portion are formed as separate pieces and securedtogether.
 35. A vacuum attachment device for connecting a vacuumingmechanism having a hose to a countersink cage, the device comprising:(a)a drill attachment portion configured to be laterally mountable onto apower tool; (b) a securement mechanism for selectively operativelyassociating the drill attachment portion to a power tool; and (c) avacuum mounting portion attachable to the drill attachment portion, thevacuum mounting portion having a configuration and material compositionthat facilitates mounting the vacuum mechanism hose into the device.